End gate



Dec. 26, 1939.. g, L RT I 2,184,597

END GATE Filed Nov. 25, 1938 (Zzrral Z/Kfgggggf Ev My 6 r ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 26, 1939 entree STATES PATENT fli i lfitl END GATE Carroll M. Iglehart, Burtonsville, Md.

Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,381 '3 Claims. (01. 296-40) My invention relates to stake bodies for trucks, gate downwardly when in a closed position to and has among its objects and advantages the prevent accidental displacement of the end gate provision of an improved end gate. stakes from their respective pockets.

Truck bodies of the stake type embody hori- Another object is to provide an end gate of the zontal planks connected in spaced relation stake type provided with a hinge through the 5' through the medium of vertical stakes. The medium of which the end gate may-be pivoted platform of the truck body is provided with stake about a vertical axis in addition to permitting pockets for the reception of the lower ends of vertical adjustment of the end gate for lifting the stakes for supporting the walls in an upright the stakes into and out of their respective pockposition on the platform. As a rule, the stakes ets and in which the hinge embodies novel means 10 are remcvably related to the pockets so that the for latching the two parts of the hinge in conwalls may be lifted and r moved from the plat-' nected relation when the gate is swung to an form. The rear wall of such a body is usually open position. The hinge is so arranged as to provided with one or more end gates. End gates permit the end gate to be swung through an arc which are slidably mounted for movement in a of 270 degrees so that the gate may be positioned 15 vertical direction may be associated with vertical flat against one side of the body and latched in stakes removably related to the stake pockets, the latter position to prevent accidental closing but it frequently happens that end gates of the during loading and unloading.

hinged type are much preferred. In the accompanying drawing:

In the sliding type of end gate, there is an Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of 20 objectionable limit as to the height the end a stake body illustrating my invention associated gate may be lifted and yet remain assembled therewith; with the truck body. Frequently, the nature of Figure 2 is an el-evational view of one of the the load requires that the end gate be comhinges partly open;

pletely removed, in which case it is necessary Figure 3 is a top plan view of the corner as- 25 to carry the end gate bodily to a place of rest. sembly of Figure 1;

An end gate of the hinged type provides an un- Figure .4 is a perspective view of the hinge limited door as to the height and the gate need spring; and not he carried bodily from the truck body. To Figure 5 is an elevational view of the rear of provide hinged end gate in a stake body it is the truck body. 30

necessary to provide some means whereby the In the embodiment selected to illustrate my end gate may be lifted sufficiently far to bring invention, I make use of a truck platform In its stakes in the clear of their respective pockets which isprovided with rub rails i2 along its side preparatory to swinging the gate to an open posiedges and a rub rail I l along its rear edge. Fig. 1 tion. At the same time, it is essential that the illustrates a portion of one side of the truck body 35 gate hinge be so constructed as to afford ample at 86 and a portion'oi one end gate at It. Side support for the end gate in addition to accomwall it includes the usual horizontal planks 20 modating vertical shifting of the end gate. supported in spaced relation through the medium Accordingly, is an object of my invention of vertical stakes 22 having their lower ends de- 40 to provide an end gate embodying stakes which tachably receivable within stake pockets as. may be fitted into the stake pockets of the body Stakes 22 in combination "with the pockets 24 platform wherein a novel hinge is provided for support the wall it in an upright position. hingedly connecting the end gate with the side Fig. 5 illustrates the rear wall of the truck wall or other suitable supporting structure and body as comprising two of the end gates 18, each in which the hinge is so constructed as to acof'which comprises horizontal planks 25 tied into 45 coinmodate vertical adjustment of the end gate a unita y Structure through the medium of Vere for bringing the stakes associated therewith in I tical stakes 28 having their lower ends detachthe clear of their respective pockets to permit ably receivable within stake pockets 3t. Planks the end gate to be swung to an open position. 26 in the end gates 18 lie in the same horizontal A further object is to provide a hinge for an P anes as the planks 2,-with the outer ends of 50. end gate of the-stake type wherein the hinge the planks 26 positioned inside the planks 20 accommodates vertical shifting of the end gate when the end gates are closed, as illustrated in in addition to a swinging action about a vertical Fig. 1. Each end gate it is hingedly connected axis and in which resilient means are incorpoat 32 and 34. to one side wall It with the opporated in the hinge structure for urging the end site endsof the gates fitting in end to end relas5 tion, as at 36 in Fig. 5. One end gate 18 is provided with a hook 38 which may be connected with a pin or eye 46 attached to the other end gate for holding the two in connected relation. Stakes 28 lend effective support to the end gates l8 while the hook 38' afiords an advantageous connecting medium between the end gates at their upper ends. Each end gate is preferably provided with at least two vertical stakes 28.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the specific construction of the hinge 32. The hinge 34 is identical with hinge 32 so that the description of one will apply to both. It will be noted that the hinge 32 is connected with the top planks 20 and 26 of the side wall I6 and the end gate l8, respectively, While'the hinge 34 is connected with the lowermost planks 20 and 26. In Fig. 2, the hinge plate 42 is of generally triangular configuration and is securely attached to the plank 20 through the medium of two bolts 44 and a third bolt 46. These bolts pass through openings 48 in the plate 42 and the plank 20, with the bolt 46 provided with a sleeve spacer 50 for holding the nut 52 in spaced relation with the plate 42. I interpose a washer 54 between the nut 52 and the spacer sleeve 59. Nuts 66 on the bolts 44 are turned down tightly against the plate 42, while the spacer sleeve 5?) is drawn down tightly against the plate through tightening of the nut 52.

The wide end of the plate 42 has its edge 58 terminating substantially flush with the end of the plank 20 and is provided with two spaced eyes 68 for the reception of the hinge bolt 62. To the outer face of the gate plank 26 I securely fasten a hinge plate 64 through the medium of three bolts 66, which bolts pass through openings 68 in the plate 64 and the plank 26. Plate 64 is provided with an eye 10 projecting beyond the lower end of its edge 12, which edge projects a short distance beyond the end 14 of the plank 26. Hinge bolt 62 passes through the eye 10 for hingedly connecting the two plates.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the eyes 60 and 10 project laterally of their respective plates 42 and 64 and that the edge 12 of the plate 64 projects beyond the end 14 of the plank 29 sufiiciently far to permit the gate [8 to be swung to a closed position in right-angular relation to the side wall I6. In the closed position of the gate E8, the projecting margin of the plate 64 lies closely adjacent the end 16 of the plank 20.

In Fig. 4, I illustrate a spring 18 as being fash-' ioned of spring wire bent to provide convolutions and diverging arms 82 terminating in eyes 84 of sufficient diameter to receive the hinge bolt 62. Convolutions B8 are flattened with their minor axes of such dimensions as to loosely receive the spacer sleeve 56 on the bolt 46. Arms 82 are so related as to impart pressure to the eyes 60 and 10 for urging the hinge plate 64 to its normal position of Fig. 2, at which time the eye 10 together with its share of the end gate load is carried by the eye 60. Eye 10 may be moved upwardly of the hinge bolt 62 against the tension of the spring 18, and the major axes of the convolutions 86 are sufiicient to accommodate any elongation of the spring unit 18 incident to flexing of the spring. The eyes 84 fit loosely on the hinge bolt 62 so that the lower eye moves freely thereon.

In Fig. l, I illustrate the end gate I8 in its closed position, at which time the vertical stakes 28 are located in the stake pockets 30 with the eyes 10 of the hinges 32 and 34 resting on their respective eyes 60. Springs I8 urge the eyes 10 against their respective eyes 60, which feature together with. the weight of the end gate eifectively supports the stakes 28 in the stake pockets 30. To swing the end gate iii to an open position, the end gate is lifted sufficiently far to bring the stakes 28 in the clear of the pockets 30 after which the gate may be swung outwardly. The upper eyes 60 and the eyes 10 are spaced sufiiciently far to permit the end gate to be lifted sufficiently far for clearing the pockets 30. As the end gate is swung to an open position, it may be swung all the way back against the associated side wall l6. Fig. 3 illustrates the stake 28 adjacent the hinges of the end gate as being so located as to take a position to one side of the nearest stake 22 so as to permit the plank 26 to be positioned in close relation with the planks Frequently it is desirable to latch the end gate Iii in the position of Fig. 3 to prevent accidental closing while loading or unloading. At times the nature of the load necessitates hauling with the end gates open. Hinge plates 42 and 64 are constructed so as to incorporate latch functions. To this end, Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the plate 42 as being provided with two eyes 86 for the reception of a latch pin 88 provided with a head 90 and a cotter pin 92. Plate 64 is provided with an eye 94 identical with the eye 10 and located in the same plane, which eye is arranged to be positioned between the two eyes 86 when the latch pin 88 is removed. With the eyes 86 and 94 aligned, the latch pin 88 may be inserted through the aligned eyes for latching the end gate I8 in its fully opened position. Cotter pin 92 prevents accidental loss of the latch pin 88.

Eye 94 of the plate 64 may serve the function ofthe eye Ill when associated with the end gate I8 hinged to the other side of the body. Thus one set of plates 64 are interchangeable in addition to being so constructed as to embody a latch function. In latching the end gates in the position of Fig. 3, the gates are lifted slightly for bringing the eyes 94 into position with respect to the eyes 85. When so latched, the lower eye 86 carries the load of its respective end gate Hi. All the eyes project laterally of their respective plates so that the latter may be clamped against the associated planks of the side walls or end gates.

Hook 38 is located near the tops of the end gates l9 so as to be accessible from a position inside the truck body. In some cases it is necessary that the end gates be so constructed as to be operable from positions inside the truck body. This is particularly true in connection with opening of the end gates. Many jobs employing large gangs of workers employ trucks of the stake body type and frequently employ the trucks for transporting the workers from place to place. In some cases restrictions are placed on the nature of the trucks, which restrictions require that the end gate or gates be of a type permitting opening thereof from a position inside the truck body. My invention is such as to permit quick and easy opening of the end gates of the stake type.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a truck body of the stake type, a platform having a stake pocket, an end gate having a stake removably receivable in said stake pocket for supporting the end gate in a closed position, a hinge connecting the end gate with the truck body at one corner of said platform, said hinge comprising a first part fastened to the end gate and a second part fastened to the truck body, said first part having an eye and said second part having a pair of eyes axially aligned therewith on opposite sides of the one eye, a hinge pin passing through the aligned eyes, said pair of eyes being spaced to permit said one eye to be shifted longitudinally of the hinge pin sufficiently far to bring the and gate stake in the clear of said pocket and subsequent pivotal movement of the end gate about the axis of the hinge pin to a position adjacent one side of the truck body, and a spring bent back upon itself to provide two legs each having a loop at its free end, said loops loosely embracing said pin with one loop abutting said one eye and the other loop abutting one of said two eyes for urging the stake into said pocket.

2. In a truck body of the stake type, a platform having a stake pocket, an end gate having a stake removably receivable in said stake pocket for supporting the end gate in a closed position, a hinge connecting the end gate with the truck body at one corner of said platform, said hinge comprising a first part fastened to the end gate and a second part fastened to the truck body, said first part having an eye and said second part having a pair of eyes axially aligned therewith on opposite sides of the one eye, a hinge pin passing through the aligned eyes, said pair of eyes being spaced to permit said one eye to be shifted longitudinally of the hinge pin sufficiently far to bring the end gate stake in the clear of said pocket and subsequent pivotal movement of the end gate about the axis of the hinge pin to a position adjacent one side of the truck body, a spring bent back upon itself to provide two legs each having a loop at its free end,said loops loosely embracing said pin with one loop abutting said one eye and the other loop abutting one of said two eyes for urging the stake into said pocket, and a second eye on said first part arranged in the same plane as the other eye associated therewith to permit said first part to be shifted to the other side of another end gate for pivotally connecting the second one eye of said first part with the hinge pin of a second part located at the other corner of the truck body.

3. In a truck body of the stake type, a platform having a stake pocket, an end gate having a stake removably receivable in said stake pocket for supporting the end .gate in a closed position, a hinge connecting the end gate with the truck body at one corner of said platform, said hinge comprising a first part fastened to the end gate and a second part fastened to the truck body, said first part having an eye and said second part having a pair of eyes axially aligned therewith on opposite sides of the one eye, a hinge pin passing through the aligned eyes, said pair of eyes being spaced to permit said one eye to be shifted longitudinally of the hinge pin sufiiciently far to bring the end gate stake in the clear of said pocket and subsequent pivotal movement of the end gate about the axis of the hinge pin to a position adjacent one side of the truck body, a spring bent back upon itself to provide two legs each having a loop at its free end, said loops loosely embracing said pin with one loop abutting said one eye and the other loop abutting one of said two eyes for urging the stakeinto said pocket, a second eye on said first part arranged in the same plane as the other eye associated therewith to permit said first part to be shifted to the other side of another end gate for pivotally connecting the second one eye of said first part with the hinge pin of a second part located at the other corner of the truck body, and a second pair of eyes carried by said second part, the second eye of said first part being adapted to be positioned between the eyes of said second pair for the reception of a latch pin to latch the end gate in its position adjacent said one side of the truck body.

CARROLL M. IGLEHART. 

